Kirsten E. Hill and Rachel O'Malley. San Jose State University
Little is known about the endangered Mount Hermon June Beetle (Polyphylla barbata) (MHJB) found only within Zayante soils region of Santa Cruz County, California. For the reason that research uncovering host plants of the species would benefit habitat management for the region, the study objective was to identify the MHJB’s host plant selection and habitat association. Mating behavior and microsite plant assemblages in female burrow sites, male flight regions and adjacent sites were analyzed between June 2004 and September 2005. Larval frass was collected from specimens found in female burrows. Larval species was confirmed by DNA analysis. Microsite flora analysis identified a variety of flora in the regions of MHJB association. Significant differences were found between regions where the MHJB did and did not occur for Chorizanthe pungens var. hartwegiana and Pinus ponderosa. Frass analyses identified angiosperm and pteridophyta divisions, and fungi demonstrating that MHJB larvae are not specialist feeders.
